Device for affixing postage or other stamps to envelopes



' (No Mod l.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. 0. STEELMAN. DEVIGE FOR APFIX 'ING-POSTAGB OR OTHER STAMPS T0 ENVELOPES', M.

NO. 521,625. Patented June 19, 1894.

9m t e e h S W. e e h S. 2 N A M L E E m S d o M o w DEVICE FOR APFiXING POSTAGE OR OTHER STAMPS T0 ENVELOPES, 6w.

WITNESSES:

A TTOHNE Y.

tion. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section theresupport the stamps to be supplied orfed to the I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC JOSEPH O. STEELMAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR AFFIXING POSTAGE OR OTHER STAMPS TO'ENVELOPES, 8L0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,625, dated June 19, 1 894.

Application filed May 23,1893.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osEPH O. STEELMAN, a citizen of the United States, residingin the city and countyof Philadelphia, Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Devices forAffixing Postage and other Stamps to Envelopes, &c., which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of a device for affixing postage and other stamps to envelopes, &c., the same embodying a plunger, a stamp cutter, a moistenor for the envelope, and a stamp feeder, said plunger serving to press the stamp upon the envelope, all as will be hereinafter set forth.

It further consists of a combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a stamp-affixing device embodyingmy invenof. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section on line 00, as, Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings: A designates a base from which rises the arm B, and which is provided with a bed A.

O designates a box which depends from the upper end of the arm B, between which box and the bed A is a space 0 said box containing a plunger or presser D, which is vertically movable over the bed A.

E and F designate tables which radiate or project from the bed A, the table E being adapted to support the envelopes to be stamped, and the table F being adapted to envelopes.

On the base A, between the bed A and the arm B is a box for containing a piece of sponge or other suitable moistening material, above which box are supported the rails or guides H for a brush J, the plate or head J of the latter having freely connected with it the lower limb of'the elbow lever K, whose upper limb is engaged by the plungerD, said'limb being mounted on the ears L on the arm B.

M designates an elbow lever which is mounted on ears N on the arm B, at a right angle to the elbow lever K, the upper limb of said I lever Mbeing engaged by the plunger D as Serial No. 475,219. (No model.)

at P, and its lower limb carrying the pushers or fingers Q, which are pivoted on said lever M, so as to be located over the table F, and enter the space 0 above the bed A, said table having on its upper face the grooves R, in which the points of the fingers Q are adapted to ride and travel, the spring S being cut away above said grooves.

On the table F is a spring S which is adapted to bear upon the stampsplaced on said table.

On the lower end of the plunger D is a cutter or cutting plate T, which works with the bed knife T below the same, said bed knife being secured to the inner end of the table F, or top of the bed A of the base, so that as the stamps which are in a strip pass over said bed knife T, and the plunger descends, the cutter T acts withthe knife T as a shear, thus severing the stamp, it being also noticed that the'brush J is adapted to sweep over the sponge in the box G, and be moistened by the same, after which it is carried over-the bed A, so that the envelope resting on the table E will be moistened where the stamp is to be affixed.

The fingers Q are adapted to advance the stamp, after which they return, and the'plunger descends, thus severing the stamp, then when the plunger has made its full motion, it

presses the stamp upon the moistened envel-- ope, and causes the same to be properly affixed thereto.

The operation is as follows: A strip of stamps is placed on the table F, beneath the spring S, and the envelope upon the table E with one end beneath the brush. The plunger is now operated so as to be lowered and then flet go, whereby it is raised by the action of the spring D. V The brush moves over the sponge, and then returns over the envelope, thus moistening the same. The fingers have also returned and are then advanced, moving the strip forward the distance of one stamp. As the plunger descends, the brush and'fingers are run back,when the cutter acts upon the stamp at the bed knife, thus severing the stamp which drops upon the moistened envelope, when the plunger making its full descent, presses the stamp upon said envelope, thus completing the operation. The envelope as stamped is then removed, and another envelope placed in position on the table. The plunger is then permitted to rise, whereby the envelope is moistened and another stamp advanced, when the plunger is again lowered, so that said stamp is severed and then pressed upon the envelope, and thus the operations may be continued.

While I refer to envelopes as having a stamp aflixed thereto, I include in my invention the use of the device for afiixing stamps to Wrappers, cards, &c.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A stamp affixing device having abed, a box with a plunger therein, above said bed, stamp and envelope tables projecting from said bed, a moistening box,a lever having at one end a brush and connected at the other end with the said plunger, a track for said brush,and a lever with pivoted fingers on one end and at its other connected with said plunger, said parts being combined substantially as described.

2. A stamp affixing device having a base with a bed, an arm rising from said base, a

box depending from said arm having a space between it and the said bed, a spring-controlled plunger in said box normally raised and carrying a cutter, an elbow lever pivoted to an ear on said box and carrying a moistening brush, an elbow lever pivoted to an car on said box and carrying stamp'feeding fingers, and a bed knife, said elbow levers being engaged by said plunger, said parts being combined substantially as described.

3. In a stamp-affixing device, a bed having stamp and envelope tables extending therefrom, and a box with moistening material connected therewith, guides supported over said box, a brush fitted to said guides, a feeding finger over the stamp table, a plunger and elbow levers, said levers being connected with said brush and finger respectively, and engaging with said plunger, substantially as described.

4. In a stamp-aifixing device, a stamp supporting table having a spring thereon between which and the table a stamp may be placed, and a feeding finger above said table, said table having a groove for the reception of the point of the finger, and said spring being cut away above said groove, said parts being combined substantially as described.

JOSEPH C. STEELMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, R. H. GRAESER. 

